APC advocates gender equality in policy making

•Lai Mohammed

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC, National Publicity Secretary
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC, National Publicity
Secretary

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Party (APC), on Monday advocated gender equality in policy making in the country.

Mohammed made the observation in Lagos at a summit organised by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) in partnership with United Kingdom Aid and Voices4Change.

NAN reports that the aim of the summit was to promote gender equality as a principle of human rights and a developmental goal.

WARDC is also advocating the rebalancing between men and women in terms of resources, legal rights, participation, decision making and equal relations.

He urged government at all levels to encourage the participation of women in politics and be voted into positions of relevance in the 2015 general elections.

Mohammed classified some of the challenges impeding women participation in the political space as traditional, religious belief, economic and education.

He urged women to rise up to the challenges so that their voices could be heard.

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“Women have proved time and again that if given the right opportunity and tools, they can contribute meaningfully to the political process and national development,” he said.

Also speaking, a representative from the National Conscience Party (NCP), Mr Seyin Ajayi, urged policy makers to ensure that women were elected as deputy governors.

“No matter how women are marginalised, policies should be designed to have a female deputy for all male governors; it must not be by appointment if they must contribute meaningfully,” Ajayi said.

Earlier, the Executive Director, WARDC, Dr Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, said Nigerian women with over half of the Nigeria population, were facing some challenges preventing them from participating in decision making and political participation.

“The journey to total political emancipation for women is still a long one but we can shorten it through our collective effort.

“It begins with educating women on their fundamental human rights so that they are not easily intimidated,” she said.

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